This is an interesting new flavor for the Glico Panapp - Kumamoto Mikan (mandarin orange). Kumamon is the popular character which Kumamoto created to brand products from that prefecture. Companies can use it for free if at least some of the ingredients are sourced from Kumamoto. Kuma in Kumamoto literally means bear, therefore the character is a bear. Mon means thing, so it is literally bear-thing, which does not translate well, but works in Japanese.
This products is also designed to have the texture and taste of a French mille-feuille dessert, with vanilla ice cream layers separated by white chocolate and mikan sauce. 熊本県 温州みかん くまモン ホワイトチョコ ミルフィーユ パナップ 江崎グリコ
http://www.glico.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin is celebrating 40 years of its Gotemba whisky distillery. One of the special items on sale is this Fuji Gotemba 40th anniversary single grain whiskey.
http://www.kirin.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin is holding a contest to name the bus that shuttles people from the train station to their Okayama Beer Park/Factory. You can enter online and the winner will also receive an additional present of some sort (not specified). キリン岡山ビアパーク
http://www.kirin.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Here is a Ben & Jerry's flavor that should go over well in almost any country - Chocolate Fudge Brownie. ベン＆ジェリーズ チョコレートファッジブラウニー
http://www.benjerry.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Here is a comparison of the new VAAM sports drink line-up in jelly form. From right to left you have Diet VAAM which contains the new amino acid mixture (D-V.A.A.M.), with implied slimming effects, the original VAAM in the middle with added citric acid, and Super VAAM on the left with added L-carnitine and CoQ10. The amounts of added amino acid mixture also increases from left to right: 1,500 mg, 1,800 mg and 3,000 mg. The two to the right sell for competitive prices (about 200 yen per can), but Super VAAM goes for a nice premium of about 300 yen per can or a bit more for the jelly pack. スーパーヴァーム ヴァームダイエット L-カルニチン コエンザイムQ10 明治
http://www.meiji.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Ben & Jerry is extending some of the same brands popular in the US to Japan. Cherry Garcia is one of those flavors, even though I think the recognition of Jerry Garcia is much less here. This image shows Cherry Garcia in a Hina Matsuri or Girls' Day setting. ベン＆ジェリーズ チェリーガルシア
http://www.benjerry.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji is celebrating 40 years in Singapore.
http://www.meiji.com.sg
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Pronto is using Pronto Eco Green glasses for some of its highball drinks. They are ecologically friendly because they are made from Suntory recycled whisky bottles. Suntory owns the Pronto chain, thus the connection.
http://www.pronto.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Beer breweries might not be quite as unique as whisky distilleries, but all the tours I have been on in Japan have been well worth the time. The Kirin Chitose Beer Brewery is located just outside Sapporo in Hokkaido. This is a nice photo of the complementary bus from the train station.
http://www.kirin.co.jp/entertainment/factory/chitose/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Aromax, the can coffee brand for Pokka and now Pokka Sapporo, touts its special wide mouth cans because they let more coffee aroma reach your nose and thus enhances the flavor. This also explains the brand name.
http://www.pokkasapporo-fb.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
